Strengthening School Safety Through Partnership: How ACLS Academy and Hanover Public Schools Are Advancing Emergency Preparedness

Creating a safe learning environment requires more than policies and procedures; it requires people who are trained, confident, and ready to respond when every second counts. In Hanover, Massachusetts, that dedication to readiness has been elevated through a powerful partnership between Hanover Public Schools on the South Shore of MA and ACLS Academy, an American Heart Association (AHA) Certified Training Center known for its community commitment and exceptional lifesaving instruction.

For years, Hanover Public Schools has turned to ACLS Academy not only for training, but for guidance, innovation, and support. Under the leadership of Carol Krall, MSN, BSN, RN, NCSN, Director of Health Services, emergency preparedness has become a cornerstone of the district’s health program. From school nurses to athletic coaches, hundreds of Hanover staff members have strengthened their lifesaving skills thanks to ACLS Academy’s high-quality, hands-on instruction.

How the Partnership Began

Carol first learned about ACLS Academy while searching for a BLS Instructor course. That single inquiry quickly blossomed into a collaborative relationship. Shelley and Chad Lynch, ACLS Academy’s founders and parents in the school district, immediately recognized the school community’s needs and offered their expertise, flexibility, and unmatched responsiveness to support Hanover’s safety goals.

What began as training for a small group of school nurses has evolved into a comprehensive, districtwide initiative that supports emergency response skills across multiple staff roles.

A Dual Model: ACLS Academy Trains Nurses — Nurses Train the District

One of the most impactful elements of this partnership is its multiplier effect on training. ACLS Academy has provided advanced training for Hanover’s nurses and substitute nurses, including:

• HeartSaver Instructor Training

• BLS Instructor Training

• PEARS Certification

With this training, Hanover’s nursing staff can then train additional district personnel, including teachers, aides, FACE program staff, and especially athletic coaches, those most likely to respond to sports-related emergencies.

As a result, approximately 200 staff members have been trained collectively by ACLS Academy and the Hanover nursing team, creating a wide and deeply skilled safety net throughout the district.

Training That Makes a Difference

Many staff members walk into mandatory CPR or first aid training with low enthusiasm, expecting a long, technical session they simply need to “get through.” However, Carol shared that the moment instructors begin, the entire atmosphere shifts. The training becomes interactive, rooted in real-world scenarios, and built around practical skills people can immediately understand and use. What starts as hesitation quickly transforms into genuine engagement, and participants who walked in uncertain leave feeling confident, capable, and even energized.

Hanover’s nurses prefer to lead in-person HeartSaver trainings, because the engagement is stronger and the skills tend to “stick” better for staff who may not use them frequently. Thanks to ACLS Academy’s instructor training, these sessions are now taught internally, saving the district significant time and budget while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Pro Bono Support from ACLS Academy

One of ACLS Academy's defining characteristics, as Carol repeatedly emphasizes, is its deep commitment to the community.

Despite operating a busy AHA Training Center with three locations, ACLS Academy routinely goes out of its way to support Hanover Schools with pro bono and reduced-cost training, recognizing that school budgets can be tight and that financial limitations should never compromise safety.

Their recent pro bono efforts for the district include:

• Free BLS Instructor courses for Hanover school nurses and health staff

• Free PEARS certification course

These training sessions not only improve emergency readiness but also position Hanover Schools as a model district for comprehensive, multi-tiered emergency response education.

A Major Achievement: Securing CEUs for PEARS Training

A significant milestone in this partnership came through ACLS Academy’s pursuit of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for the PEARS course. This effort, led by ACLS Academy founder Shelley Lynch and graduate nursing student Constance Dunton in 2024, required extensive communication with the American Nurses Association of Massachusetts (ANA), rigorous documentation, and thorough curriculum review. But the work paid off: ACLS Academy received official CEU approval for PEARS, granting 7.5 CEUs to participants.

This immediately benefited Hanover nurses. In early November 2024, a group of 25 school nurses completed their PEARS training and received CEUs for it, strengthening both their emergency skills and their professional development.

Why Hanover Chooses ACLS Academy

For Carol, the reason Hanover continues to work exclusively with ACLS Academy is simple:

• Their communication is fast and reliable.

• Their instruction is exceptional.

• Their partnership approach makes the district feel valued and supported.

• Their mission aligns perfectly with school needs.

• Their commitment to community safety goes above and beyond.

As Carol shared, “ACLS Academy is phenomenal, and Hanover Schools wouldn’t use anyone else for our lifesaving skills training.”

Looking Ahead

As the district continues to grow and evolve, its commitment to safety remains unwavering. With ACLS Academy as a trusted partner, Hanover Schools is better prepared, better trained, and better equipped to protect every student and staff member—every day.

Together, they’re setting a new standard for what school safety can look like: collaborative, comprehensive, and community-driven.